American Cockroaches

1/13/2011

The American cockroach ranges in size from 1 3/8 inches to 2 1/8 inches in size. They are found in residences, but are more common in larger commercial buildings, like restaurants, warehouses, food processing plants, in basements and steam tunnels.

In the United States this is the most common species found in city sewer systems. More than 5,000 individuals have been found in a single sewer manhole.

American Cockroaches favor microhabitats with high humidity.The American cockroach rarely flies, but if they start from a high distance (like a tree) they can glide for a good distance. They will enter residence in search of warmth, food, and shelter.

American cockroaches feed on a wide variety of materials, including cosmetics, beer, potted plants, wallpaper paste, soap, postage stamps, fermenting fruit, pet food, and human food. They contaminate human food, clothing, paper goods, and surfaces with their feces and body parts. They are a mechanical vector of numerous bacterial and viral pathogens, including Samonella and Poliopmyelitis.

American cockroaches also produce a strong unpleasant odor. This characteristic odor is not only detectable in infested buildings but is also transferred to items that the cockroaches crawl across when foraging.

A pest management professional can often detect an American cockroach infestation by smell before he has actually seen any cockroaches.

Elimination is achieved by a combination of exclusion, proper sanitation, use of pesticides applied to critical entry points, and placing baits in gel or dust form near harborage sites.

ABOUT US

Killingsworth is your one-stop source for Charlotte pest control, termite treatment, lawn care, carpet care, water restoration, mold remediation, heating & air conditioning and a wide range of other residential services. Our technicians and exterminators proudly serve Charlotte and the surrounding areas with world class customer service! Our customer service is second to none. If we say we'll be there at 9am, our folks know that 9:01 is unacceptable!